ONCE again Liverpool FC walked away from a pulsating clash with the plaudits rather than the points. Once again pride was mixed with deflation and a sense of what might have been.

It’s typical of such a topsy-turvy campaign that a potentially season-defining week saw Brendan Rodgers’ side take a giant leap forward, but end up further off the pace in the race for a Champions League spot.

From the depths of despair after their humiliating FA Cup defeat to Oldham, the response has been hugely impressive.

Liverpool followed up their midweek draw at Arsenal with arguably their best performance of the season in yesterday’s thrilling stalemate with Manchester City.

The Reds emerged from two exacting contests unbeaten and with their stock having risen considerably, but in the knowledge that a return of two points was scant reward for their efforts.

Both in the capital and at the Etihad, Liverpool grabbed a share of the spoils from the jaws of victory.

The painful reality is that it’s February and Liverpool still haven’t beaten anyone in the top half of the Premier League table this season.

They have an infuriating knack of pressing the self-destruct button and conceding cheap goals with Pepe Reina’s late rush of blood helping City secure a point they didn’t deserve.

Yet the signs of progress under Rodgers are undeniable. This wasn’t a gritty backs-to-the-wall display. Instead Liverpool went for the jugular and outplayed the champions for long periods.

City hadn’t conceded a goal in 2013 having kept six straight clean sheets but their rearguard were tormented by the brilliance of Daniel Sturridge.

Sturridge walked away from City in 2009 disillusioned at his lack of game time and on his return he showed them what they’re missing.

The £12million man has been a revelation since he arrived from Chelsea a month ago and has given Liverpool a new attacking dimension.

Sturridge has both the strength to hold the ball up and the intelligence to drop into space and bring others into play. Most importantly, Sturridge is a natural finisher and four goals in half a dozen appearances so far is testament to that.

Sturridge wasn’t short of support with Luis Suarez flourishing just behind him, while out on the right Stewart Downing’s resurgence continued as he produced one of his finest displays in a red shirt.

Jordan Henderson carried on where he left off at Arsenal and skipper Steven Gerrard wrestled control of the midfield and simply refused to let go.

Gerrard’s stunning long-range strike was worthy of winning any game but a significant scalp eluded the Reds as Sergio Aguero ruthlessly punished Reina’s error.

A week after blasting Liverpool’s youngsters for the club’s FA Cup exit, Rodgers went for experience. With an average age of 28, this was the Reds’ oldest starting XI since October 2011.

Jose Enrique replaced Andre Wisdom at the back with Jamie Carragher once again preferred to Martin Skrtel.

There was an early scare when Reina was forced to tip over David Silva’s strike but for the most part they nullified City’s threat with Carragher once again repaying Rodgers’ faith.

Liverpool grew in confidence and when they counter-attacked at pace the hosts struggled to contain them.

Gerrard, Downing and Glen Johnson combined to find Sturridge in space. His first touch took it away from Joe Hart but Pablo Zabaleta diverted his shot behind.

Suarez sliced wide after being teed up by Sturridge but Liverpool were rocked when City broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 23rd minute.

It was far too easy as from a throw-in, Silva released James Milner on the left and his low cross was turned home by the unmarked Edin Dzeko. Daniel Agger, who had dropped off too deep, compounded his error by appealing forlornly for offside rather than tracking the Bosnian.

Within six minutes Liverpool equalised in controversial circumstances but City’s bitter complaints cut no ice.

Agger’s challenge on Dzeko was deemed fair by referee Anthony Taylor and as the striker lay on the turf feigning injury the Reds broke forward.

Pleas for the ball to be kicked out for Dzeko to have treatment were rightly ignored. At one point the move broke down but Downing expertly nicked it off Javi Garcia’s toe and found Gerrard.

The skipper laid it off to Sturridge who slammed a 25-yard pile-driver past Hart.

Dzeko immediately jumped to his feet to berate the assistant and needed no treatment – vindicating Liverpool’s decision to play on.

City were lucky to still be level at the break. Hart wasn’t expecting a backpass from Zabaleta which left the keeper beaten and rolled just past the post and the England shot-stopper was then called into action to cling on to Suarez’s volley.

In the second half Liverpool remained firmly in the ascendancy and the home fans grew increasingly restless.

Suarez volleyed Downing’s cross back across goal but Lescott got ahead of Carragher to deflect it behind.

Sturridge, who was booked for diving after going down under Lescott’s challenge in the box, then knocked Gael Clichy off his feet with a thunderous effort.

City rallied with Garth Barry sending a looping header just over but the Reds dug in and with 17 minutes to go they broke away to devastating effect.

Enrique’s cross was cleared by Clichy but only as far as Gerrard, who chested the ball down 30 yards out and unleashed an unstoppable right-footed drive into the bottom corner. It was reminiscent of his wonder goal in the 2006 FA Cup final.